Improvement in electric batteries



V. HSMMER,

Improvement in Electric Battery.

Patented Oct. 10, 187.1.

minim:

V Y gunman Mamas- PATENT OFFICE.

VITALIS HIMMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC BATTERlES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,763, dated October10, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VITALIS HIMMER, of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved ElectricBattery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and'eXact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification.

The drawing represents a vertical central section of my improvedelectric battery.

This invention relates to a new electric battery, which is so arrangedthat its power can be regulated at will, and that a supply of itssourceof power can be attached to it to keep it operative for a suitablelength of time. The invention consists, principally, in the applicationto the battery-cup of an inverted covering-vessel, which containssulphate of copper, and has a pendent pipe dipping into the holder ofthe copper element. The depth to which said pipe is immersed in thecopper regulates the strength of the battery. The pipe is therefore madeup-and-down adjustable in the covering-vessel.

A in the drawing represents the battery-cup, made of glass or othersuitable material, of suitable form and size. B is a small vessel oftruncated conical form, placed upon the bottom of the vessel A. O is avessel of suitable size and shape, filled with sulphate of copper andwater, and provided with a neck, a, through which a small tube, 1), isfitted. This tube bis preferably held in a cork, c, as shown, in whichit may be shifted up and down and still held secure. The vessel 0 is inan inverted position, placed upon the cup A so that the tube 1) entersthe pot B to a greater or less depth. D is the copper element of thebattery, placed into the pot B and connected with the conductor (1. E isthe zinc element of the battery, placed within the upper part of the cupA and held there by its own spring pressure. 6 is the conductor leadingfrom the zinc.

The cup A is filled with salt or other water, and also the vessel 0. Thelatter is then in an inverted position placed over the cup, as shown,its tube 1) entering the pot B. The upper end of the tube is preferablyclosed and small perforations out near thetop throughit, so that theywill not be liable to become clogged by pieces of sulph ate of copper.The water in G will gradually dissolve the sulphate of copper, thesolution flowin g into B, where, on account ofbalanced pressure,

it will rise no higher than the lower end of the tube 1). That amount ofsurface ofcopper D which is in actual contact with the above-namedsolution will be active in the battery, but not the remainder. The depthto which the tube 1) is immersed,- and the consequent height in B of thesulphate-ofcopper solution determine, therefore, the strength of thebattery. The zinc will, by the contact with the water, always be readyfor action, the

secure it air-tight, in which case evaporation is absolutely prevented.A battery of this kind can be kept in effective operation continuouslyfor years, without requiring the least addition or replacement of parts,provided the pieces D E are of sufificient size and the vessel 0 largeenough to hold the requisite amount of the sulphate of copper.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The inverted vessel 0, having the pendent tube 1),and applied as a cover to the cup of an electric battery, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

2. The electric battery composed of the cup A, pot B, inverted vessel 0,pipe b, and elements D E, all arranged substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. The tube b, supplying the exciting solution to the copper-plate of abattery, made lengthwise adjustable to regulate the strength of thebattery, substantially as herein shown and described.

VITALIS HIMMER.

Witnesses:

A. V. BRIESEN,

T. B. MOSHER. (50)

